Mechanism for feeding and driving screws

ABSTRACT

A mechanism for feeding screws having a kerf head from a preloaded replaceable turret-type magazine to a motor driven rotating screw driver having a kerf engaging tip for driving the screws is disclosed which mechanism includes a novel combination of features to insure efficient automatic jam-free operation. An embodiment of the mechanism in which the screws are force fed to the screw driver, as well as an embodiment in which the screws are fed by gravity to the screw driver, is described. Structural means for adapting the mechanism to feed fasteners having a range of diameters and which render the mechanism insensitive to length of the fasteners are disclosed and a disposable magazine for use with the mechanism is described.

United States Patent Manino Sept. 23, 1975 [76] Inventor: Anthony P. Manino, 1124 Chess Dr., Foster City, Calif. 94404 [22] Filed: Apr. 29, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 464,752

[52] US. Cl 144/32; 8l/57.37

[51] Int. Cl B251) 23/04 [58] Field of Search 144/32; 81/57.37, 57.23, 81/125 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,256,012 9/1941 Blair 144/32 2,266,302 12/1941 Blair 144/32 2,943,652 7/1960 Chilton 144/32 2,951,516 9/1960 Chilton 144/32 3,526,257 11/1968 Kirkland 144/32 Primary ExaminerAndrew R. Juhasz Assistant ExaminerW. D. Bray Attorney, Agent, or FirmPhillips, Moore, Weissenberger Lempio & Strabala [57] ABSTRACT A mechanism for feeding screws having a kerf head from a pre-loaded replaceable turret-type magazine to a motor driven rotating screw driver having a kerf engaging tip for driving the screws is disclosed which mechanism includes a novel combination of features to insure efficient automatic jam-free operation. An embodiment of the mechanism in which the screws are force fed to the screw driver, as well as an embodiment in which the screws are fed by gravity to the screw driver, is described. Structural means for adapting the mechanism to feed fasteners having a range of diameters and which render the mechanism insensitive to length of the fasteners are disclosed and a disposable magazine for use with the mechanism is described.

10 Claims, 22 Drawing Figures US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 1 of 6 mm km US Patent' Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 3 of6 FIG) FIG 5 US Patent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet 4 of6 3,907,014

m- In. Q l9 63 6O 3O 66 LJ-PH 9 I 6| FIG-'13 62 30 v US atent Sept. 23,1975 Sheet6 of6 3,907,014

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MECHANISM FOR FEEDING AND DRIVING SCREWS Background of the Invention This invention relates to a mechanism for feeding and driving screws and more particularly to a mechanism for automatically feeding screws having a kerf or other end located driving surface in the heads thereof from coaxial alignment in a pre-loaded replaceable magazine one at a time to a motor driven rotating screw driver having a tip for engaging the kerf, or other end located driving surface, in the heads of the screws to drive them with their individual axes at an angle to such coaxial alignment in the magazine.

It has been proposed in the prior art to automatically feed nuts, bolts or cap screws having peripheral driving surfaces to a motor driven hollow rotating tool adapted to receive such nuts, bolts or cap screws in coaxial alignment from a turret-type magazine and engage the peripheral driving surfaces thereof for driving purposes. For example, the mechanism disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,256,012 to Blair discloses such a mechanism which is applicable to any type of threaded fastener which includes peripheral driving surfaces. However, the teaching of such prior art is totally inapplicable to any fastener which must be driven by engagement of the tool with driving surfaces located in the end thereof, such as the kerf of an ordinary screw, as distinguished from driving surfaces located peripherally thereof as on ordinary nuts, bolts or cap screws.

It will be understood that if the driving surfaces are located in the end of the threaded fastener, it will be necessary for each fastener to be moved out of coaxial alignment with other fasteners in order to provide access to such driving surfaces. Thus, if the fasteners are to be fed, one at a time, to the tool from coaxial alignment in a magazine, it is necessary to provide an appropriate mechanism to move each of the fasteners in turn out of alignment with the fasteners remaining in the magazine and to do so in spite of the inherent tendency of such fasteners to jam in the mechansim.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,526,257 to Kirkland discloses such a mechanism for automatically feeding screws having a kerf from a turret-type magazine to a motor driven screw driver having a kerf engaging tip for driving purposes. However, such mechanism does not include any anti-jam features and, in operation, requires radical changes in the angular relationship between the axis of the turret type magazine and the axis of the screw driver, thus increasing the inherent tendency of the fasteners to jam, not only in the feeding mechanism but in the magazine itself.

It is an object of this invention to reduce toward minimum the jamming tendency of a mechanism for feeding fasteners having end located driving surfaces, one at a time, from coaxial alignment in a magazine to a rotating tool having a tip for engaging such end located driving surfaces for driving each fastener in turn with its axis angularly disposed with respect to the coaxial alignment of the fasteners in the magazine.

A particular mechanism constructed as taught in the above mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,526,257 to Kirkland can only feed fasteners of one specific length and diameter from a magazine to the tool. The upper limit on the acceptable diameter of the fasteners is, of course, imposed by the internal dimensions of the drive sleeve which is in turn related to the external dimensions of the screw driver. Similarly, the upper limit on length is determined by the spacing between the nozzle and the rearward end of the opening through which the fastener enters the drive sleeve from the magazine.

In fact, if fasteners having a smaller diameter than the upper limit are used, there will be misalignment between the end located driving surfaces thereof and the tip of the screw driver making it substantially impossible to drive the fasteners effectively. Similarly, if fasteners having a length shorter than the maximum ac ceptable length are used, more than one at a time will tend to be fed into the drive sleeve resulting in the jamming of the fasteners in the drive sleeve.

It is another object of this invention to provide a mechanism of the type described above which can be used to feed all fasteners having a given diameter which have a length less than a given maximum to an appr0- priate tool.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a mechanism of the type described which may easily be adapted to feed fasteners of a range of diameters to an appropriate tool by means of readily replaceable components.

The mechanism taught in U.S. Pat. No. 3,526,257 to Kirkland relies on the force of gravity to feed the fastener to the tool. Thus, it is difficult to use effectively in certain positions and impossible to use under circumstances requiring the mechanism to be held upside down or where the fasteners are to be driven in a vertically upward direction and there is no opportunity to return the mechanism to a position in which the axis of the screw driver is substantially horizontal.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a mechanism of the type described above in which the fasteners are force fed from the magazine and which mechanism is insensitive to the position in which it is held.

The teaching of U.S. Pat. No. 3,526,257 discloses an electric motor unit having a housing with a pistol grip and a trigger type switch mounted thereon, which unit is substantially identical in its structure to a wide variety of commercially available electric drills. However, the mechanism taught by Kirkland is not adapted to be mounted on and powered by a. commercially available motor unit without substantial modification therein.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a mechanism of the type described which can be easily adapted to be mounted on and powered by a wide variety of commercially available hand-held drills without substantial modification in the: housing or mechanism of such drills.

In the structure taught by U.S. Pat. No. 3,526,257, the magazine may be removed from the mechanism for refilling and to this end it is provided with gates to prevent the fasteners from dropping out of the magazine during the filling operation. However, in addition to the structural complexity of the magazine, the refilling of the magazine is complicated by the gates and the magazine is difficult to remove from and replace on the mechanism.

It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a mechanism of the type described above in which an empty magazine may be quickly and easily replaced by a full magazine, such magazines being simple and inexpensive enough to be disposed of without refilling, if desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the improvement in the mechanism of the type described above according to this invention comprises a block member located at the intersection of the axis along which the fasteners are substantially coaxially aligned in the magazine with the cylindrical axis of the tool. A cylindrical passageway, coaxially aligned with the tool, having a diameter larger than the diameter of the tool is formed through the block member and includes means for receiving the fasteners from the magazine and aligning them with the tool. The block member is rigidly mounted at one end of a rigid elongated frame having a portion extending along the axis of the magazine and removably supporting the magazine in fixed relation to the block member. The other end of the frame is mechanically interconnected with the tool for slidable movement with respect to the tool in a direction parallel to the cylindrical axis of the tool whereby the angle formed by the axis of the magazine and the axis of the tool remains constant in use. Ac-

cording to another feature of this invention, the means of block member for receiving the fasteners from the magazine and aligning them with the tool for driving, comprises a hollow tubular insert in the cylindrical passageway of the block member. Such insert is dimensioned to receive the tool with a close spaced sliding telescopic fit and has a slot through its wall intermediate its ends of at least equal length to the length of the fasteners and a width dimensioned to receive the fasteners into the insert laterally, the insert being mounted in the block member to receive the fasteners in turn from the magazine through such slot. A further feature of this invention is a spring means interposed in the insert to resiliently retain a fastener in the insert against axial movement. According to yet another feature of the invention, the block member includes an arch-like stop means having its open end positioned above theslot in the insert at the end thereof adjacent the magazine and dimensioned to pass the shank of the fasteners but not the head thereof, the surface of said arch-like stop means adjacent the magazine extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to the cylindrical axis of the tool.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The foregoing and other objects and features of this invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof when read in conjunction with the appended drawing wherein:

FIG. l is a side view in elevation of a preferred embodiment of this invention in which the fasteners are fed from the magazine by force of gravity with the parts thereof shown in their normal position at rest.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the embodiment of this invention as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view in elevation of the embodiment of this invention as shown in FIG. 1 but with the parts thereof shown in their position at the end of a driving operation and before retraction to their normal position at rest.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken along lines 55 of FIG. 2 with the fasteners therein shown in elevation.

FIG. 6 is a side view in elevation of the insert member of the block of FIG. 5 shown by itself.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5 but with the insert member thereof shown in top elevation.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 88 of FIG. 3 with the magazine omitted in order to show the arch-like stop means.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the arch-like stop means including a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of the end of the magazine in spaced relation thereto in order to show the physical relationship therebetween.

FIGS. 10a and 10b are perspective views of the exit nozzle of the preferred embodiments of this invention shown in its opposite extreme conditions in operation.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view identical to FIG. 5 but with the fasteners therein shown in a further position which they normally assume prior to the beginning of the driving operation.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view identical to FIG. 11 but showing the fasteners therein and parts thereof in intermediate position after the driving operation has begun.

FIG. 13 is a view identical to FIG. 12 but showing the fasteners therein and parts thereof in their positions toward the end of the driving operation.

FIG. 14 is a side view in elevation of a further preferred embodiment of this invention in which the fasteners are force fed from the magazine with the parts thereof shown in their normal position at rest.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the right hand end of the magazine and mounting bracket of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a rear view in elevation of the mounting bracket and magazine of FIG. 15 taken along lines l6l6 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 17-17 of FIG. 14 showing the arch-like stop means of this embodiment of the invention in elevation.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the arch-like stop means of the embodiment of this invention shown in FIGS. 14 through 17.

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but of the embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 12 but of the embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 14.

FIG. 21 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 11 but of the embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 14 and showing the movement of the fasteners at the instant the parts return to their normal rest position after a driving operation.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. 1, the mechanism 10 according to a preferred embodiment of this invention includes a conventional electric power unit 11 of the type sold for use with various rotary tools such as drills, buffers, polishers and grinders and which comprises an electric motor contained in a housing 12 including a pistol grip type handle 13 and a trigger type switch 14 for controlling the electrical energy supplied to the motor through an appropriate cord 15. The motor is adapted to rotate an adjustable chuck 16 which is in turn adapted to grip the ends or shanks of the various rotary tools mentioned above which fall within a given range of diameters. Thus, according to the embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 1, the shank of an elongated cylindrical screw driver 17 is received in the chuck 16 for rotation about its cylindrical axis by the motor of the power unit 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, the free end of the screw driver 17 is provided with an appropriate tip for engaging the kerf in the head of the conventional screw. However, it will be understood that the teaching of this invention is equally applicable to the driving of fasteners having other types of end located driving surfaces in the heads thereof such as Phillips head screws, for example. As shown in FIG. 1, the free end of the screw driver 17 is received in a cylindrical passageway, as will be more fully described hereinafter, formed in a block member 18. The block member 18 is rigidly mounted at the free ends of the arms 19 of a generally U-shaped bracket member 20 mounted at its closed end on the housing 12 of the power unit 11 by a yoke means 21 for sliding movement in a direction parallel to the axis of the screw driver 17. As will be more fillly described hereinafter, the bracket member 20 comprises an elongated rigid frame which is adapted to replaceably support a magazine 22 containing an array of a plurality of screws substantially coaxially aligned along a given axis in fixed relation to the block member 18 with such given axis extending at an angle to the axis of the screw driver 17. Thus, it will be seen that the block member 18, bracket 20 and magazine 22 are adapted to move as a unit along the axis of the screw driver 17 with respect to the screw driver 17 and the power unit 11 with the physical relationship between the block member 18, bracket 20 and magazine 22 remaining constant.

Thus, the assembly consisting of the block member 18, bracket 20 and magazine 22 and the assembly consisting of the screw driver 17, power unit 12 and yoke 21 reciprocate with respect to each other along the axis of the screw driver 17 between the positions thereof shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. FIG. 1 shows the relative position of the parts in their normal position at rest whereas FIG. 3 shows the relative position of the parts toward the end of an operational cycle during which a screw is driven. Thus, in FIG. 3 a screw 23 is shown emerging from a nozzle 24 which communicates with the passageway through the block member 18 as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Referring to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the yoke 21 is a U-shaped member adapted to fit over the top of the power unit 11 with the free ends of the legs thereof affixed to the housing of the power unit 11 as by means of screws 25, for example. The bracket 20 is mechanically connected to the yoke 21 for sliding movement with respect thereto by means of a pair of rods 26 passing through apertures in the bottom of the U-shaped bracket 20. The rods 26 project from the yoke 21 in a direction parallel to the axis of the screw driver 17 and away from the block member 18. v

The free ends of the rods 26 are interconnected by stop means 27 (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 3) and thus the bottom of the U-shaped bracket 20 is captured between the yoke 21 and the stop member 27 and an appropriate means such as the adjustable nuts 29 (see FIG. 2) may be provided on the stop means 27 in order to provide for the precise adjustment of the relative positions of the reciprocating assemblies at the end of their travel with respect to each other in driving a screw.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 4, a set screw 28 may be provided which extends through the bottom of the bracket 20 toward the yoke 21. Thus, the end of the set screw 28 will engage the yoke 21 and provide for precise adjustment of the relative positions of the assemblies at rest so that a screw will be properly received in front of the screw driver.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, an elongated guide rod 30 projecting along the axis of the screw driver 17 from the housing 12 of the power unit 11 into a passageway in the block member 18 provides additional stability in the assembly and serves as a support for a helical compression spring 31 which surrounds the guide rod 30 and is captured between the housing 12 and the block member 18 to bias the reciprocating assemblies toward the position shown in FIG. 1. In addition, the rod 30 is provided with a plurality of notches adapted to cooperate with a double acting ratchet means 32 in the block member 18 in order to insure that the proper sequence of reciprocation is maintained, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the magazine 22 according to this embodiment of the invention is of the turret type comprising a plurality of elongated tubes arranged in circular array with their axes parallel to each other and their side walls interconnected to form a rigid structure. The magazine 22 is replaceably mounted on the bracket 20 by means of a magazine clamping structure 33 including a pair of upstanding resilient arms 34 adapted to resiliently embrace the outer periphery of the array tubes which form the turret type magazine 22. One end of the magazine 22 abuts against an arch-like stop means 35 which closes all of the tubes of the magazine 22 with the exception of the lowermost tube as will be more fully described hereinafter. The other end of the tubes of the magazine 22 are closed by an annular cap 36 which is permanently fixed thereto and which has an enlarged central aperture corresponding to the internal spacing between the tubes of the magazine 22. The magazine clamping structure 33 is provided with an upstanding flange adjacent the end cap 36 of the magazine 22 and a rod structure 44 (FIG. 5) is mounted on the arch-like stop means 35 by means of a swivel joint 38, projecting therefrom toward the flange 37. The rod structure 44 is dimensioned to be received in the internal space between the tubes of the magazine 22 and through the central aperture in the annular cap 36 with the free end thereof including nob means 39 adapted to cooperate with a slot in the flange 37 to lock such rod structure with its axis substantially parallel to the axis of the magazine 22.

It will be understood that each of the tubes of the turret type magazine 22 will initially be loaded with a plurality of screws having heads of'a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of such tubes and in substantially coaxial end-to-end alignment with their heads adjacent the annular cap 36 and their points adjacent the open ends of the tubes. The open ends of the tubes of the magazine 22 may be closed by a removable cap for transportation of the magazine. The magazine would be loaded into the mechanism 10 by removing such removable cap and threading the rod structure through the internal spacing between the tubes of the magazine 22. The magazine 22 would then be forced downwardly between the arms 34 and the rod structure would simultaneously be lock-ed into the slot of the flange 37. Asbest shown in FIG. 9, one of the tubes of the magazine 22 will then be aligned with the opening 40 of the arch-like stop means 35 while the open ends of the remaining ones of such tubes will be closed by the stop means 35. The stop means 35 is provided with a pair of spaced flanges 41 on opposite sides of the opening 40 adapted to receive the tube of the magazine 22 which is aligned with the opening 40 therebetween and to engage the tubes on either side thereof to prevent the magazine from being unintentionally rotated in operation. However, referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the flange 37 of the clamping structure 33 is provided with a cantilever spring 42 carrying a knob 43 in its free end adapted to compressively engage the cap 36 of the magazine 22. Thus, when a particular tube of the magazine 22 is empty, the magazine 22 may be forced away from the stop means 35 a sufficient distance to clear the flanges 41 by flexing the cantilever spring 42. This will allow the magazine to be rotated to bring a full tube into alignment with the opening 40 in the stop means 35 without removing the magazine 22 from the clamping structure 33.

Referring now to FIG. 5, it will be seen that the screws 23 are fed from the tube of the magazine 22 which is aligned with the opening 40 in the stop member 35 through such opening 40 into the passageway in the block member 18 and in front of the screw driver 17. In accordance with the teaching of this invention, the passageway through the block 18 is provided by means of a tubular insert member 50 mounted in such block. The insert member 50 is adapted to receive the screw driver 17 in one end thereof and to receive the nozzle 24 in threaded communication with the other end thereof. As best shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the insert member 50 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 51 between the ends thereof which slot 51 has a portion 52 of sufficient width to receive the head of the screws 23 adjacent the screw driver 17 with the balance of the slot 51 being at least wide enough to receive the shank of the screws 23. The insert member 50 is also provided with a transversely extending slot 53 which intersects the longitudinal slot.

Referring to FIG. 7, it will be seen that a pair of cantilever spring members 54 are each mounted at one end on a different one of the legs 19 of the bracket member 20 in such a way that their free ends extend through the slot 53 and into the insert member 50 at an angle to the axis thereof. The length of the penetration of the spring members 54 into the insert member 50 and the width of the slots 53 are selected so that the shank of the screw 23 may be received between the free ends of the spring members 54 and the spring members 54 may be bent outwardly to allow the passage of the head of the screw 23 therebetween.

As best shown in FIG. the enlarged portion 52 of the slot 51, as well as the slot 53 and the spring members 54, are positioned with respect to the arch-like stop member 35 so that the screw 23a which is to be driven by the screw driver 17 will be received in the in sert member 50 in substantially the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 7. In other words, the head of the screw 23a will be received in the slot 52 with its shank between the free ends of the spring members 54 and its head adjacent the screw driver 17. In this position, the spring members 54 will prevent the screw 23a from moving axially toward the nozzle 24 and until the head of the screw 23a is forced against the spring members 54 by reciprocation of the block 18 with respect to the 1 screw driver 17.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the next succeeding screw 23b cannot enter the insert member 50 through the slot 51 until after the screw 23a has been driven by the screw driver 17. In fact, the threads of the next succeeding screw 23b will tend to bind against the threads of the screw 23a due to the force of gravity and the weight of the screws 23c which remain in the magazine 22.

However, referring to FIG. 11, the normal vibration and jolting of the device in use will tend to cause the screw 23b to move to the position shown in which it is superimposed on the screw 23a. In any event and referring to FIG. 12, as soon as the reciprocating motion is begun by which the screw driver 17 forces the screw 23a axially toward the nozzle 24 the screw 23b would be urged to the position thereof shown in FIG. 12.

Referring now in greater detail to FIGS. 8 and 9, it will be seen that the screw 23b is held in axial position shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 by engagement of the head thereof with a flange 45 formed about the inner periphery of the opening 40 in the arch-like stop member 35. Thus the head of the screw 23b is received within the opening 40 but is prevented from passing therethrough by the flange 45 on the downwardly extending legs thereof. As best shown in FIG. 5, 11 and 12 the opening 40 of the arch-like stop member 35 is dimensioned and positioned to pass the shank of the screw 23b from the magazine 22 into the insert member 50 but to closely surround the head thereof to prevent jamming of the point of the next succeeding screw 23c into the opening 40 therewith.

As best shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, the surface of the flange 45 of the opening 40 which faces the magazine extends in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the screw driver 17. Thus axial forces on the screw 23b will tend to pivot the shank thereof upwardly so that its axis is parallel to the axis of the screw driver 17. The tubes of the magazine 22 are each preferably provided with a notch 46 in the ends thereof adjacent the arch-like stop member 35 in order to facilitate the passage of the heads of the screws 23 from the magazine and into the position represented by the screw 23b in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13.

The block member 18 may be provided with and arch-like cap or cover member 47 over the slot 51 in the insert 50 dimensioned to receive the screw 23b as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

As best shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13, the guide rod 30 is provided with a plurality of notches along the length thereof including enlarged notches 61 and 62 at each end thereof. The double acting ratchet means 32 may comprise a cantilever type spring member 63 rigidly mounted at one end with its free end extending into engagement with the notches 60, 61, 62. The spring member 63 is adapted to flex in both directions along the axis of the guide rod 30 and the notches 61 and 62 are dimensioned to allow the spring member 63 to assume an unflexed position when received therein. Thus it will be seen that the function of the ratchet means 32 is to insure the completion of one portion of the reciprocating movement before the other portion can commence. Thus, referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, it will be seen that the spring member 63 has been deflected to the left by engagement with the notches 60 of the guide rod 30. Such position of the spring member 63 will prevent the guide rod from moving to the right with respect to the block 18. However, referring to FIG. 13, when the driving motion of the screw driver 17 to the left with respect to the block 18 has been completed, the spring member 63 will be received in the enlarged notch 62 and allowed to return to its normal unflexed position. At this point the movement of the screw driver 17 and guide rod 30 to the right with respect to the block 18 may commence and once commenced, must be completed before the direction of such movement can be reversed.

As shown in FIG. 13, the screw 23a is firmly held for driving purposes as it emerges from the nozzle 24 not only by the engagement of the screw driver 17 with the kerf in the head thereof, but also by the engagement of the outer periphery of the head of the screw 23a with the inner surface of the nozzle and more importantly by the flanged fingers 64 at the free end of the nozzle 24. Such flanged fingers 64 are provided by a plurality of longitudinally extending slots 65 in the end of the nozzle member 24 which nozzle member 24 is preferably made of a low friction, resilient material such as Teflon, for example. It will be understood that the fingers 64 in the end of the nozzle member 24 must be capable of being repeatedly deflected outwardly to pass the enlarged head of the screws 23. However, they must also firmly grip the shank of the screws 23 during the driving operation. To this end, an annular member 66 of highly resilient material, such as rubber, compressively surrounds the outer periphery of the nozzle 24 intermediate the ends of the slots 65. The annular member 66 may be received in an appropriate annular groove and is dimensioned to insure that the shank of the screws 23 are firmly gripped during driving thereof although the fingers 64 may be subsequently flexed outwardly in order to pass the heads of the screws 23.

Referring to FIGS. 14 through 21, an embodiment of this invention in which the screws 23 may be forced fed from the magazine 22 rather than relying on the force of gravity for such feeding is shown. This embodiment of the invention is identical to the embodiment described hereinabove except for the structural features which will be described in detail hereinafter. Thus, referring to FIG. 14, a spring reel mechanism 70 of the type commonly found on office stapler machines is mounted on the arch-like stop means as shown. As best shown in FIGS. 1921, such mechanism 70 comprises a wire or tape 71 adapted to be wound on a spring driven reel 72 mounted by means of a bracket 73 on the arch-like stop means 35. According to this embodiment of the invention, the rod structure 44 comprises a slotted hollow tube mounted by the swivel joint 38 on the arch-like stop means 35. A courser plug 75 is received within the slotted tubular member 44 and the wire or tape 71 of the mechanism 70 passes through the arch-like stop means 35 and inside the slotted tube 54 into operative connection with the courser plug 75. Referring to FIG. 4, each of the tubes of the magazine 22 is provided with a longitudinal slot adapted to be aligned in turn with the slot in the hollow tubular member 44. As best shown in FIG. 21 the courser plug 75 is provided with a dog 76 adapted to project through the slot in the hollow tube 44 and the slot in the tube of the magazine 22 aligned therewith. The dog 76 is mounted by swivel means on the courser plug 75 enabling it to rotate in a clockwise direction but preventing it from rotating in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shown.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, the tube 54 is provided with a knob 77 at the free end thereof adapted to cooperate with the end flange 37 on the clamping structure 33 in locking the magazine 22 in place. A retracter rod 74 passes through the knob 77 and axially along the tube 44 through the courser plug 75 terminating in a free end having plug engaging :means thereon. Thus the courser plug may be pulled to the right against the tension of the spring reel 72 and wire or tape 71 by means of the retracter rod 74 after a given tube of the magazine 22 is empty of screws. It will be understood that the dog 76 will pivot in a clockwise direction when it engages the cap 36 on the end of the magazine 22 thereby retracting it from the slot in the empty tube of the magazine 22 and allowing the magazine 22 to be rotated to bring a full tube into feeding position. As best shown in FIG. 15, the retractor rod 74 is provided with a knob 78 adapted to be received by and locked to the knob 77 as by means of a bayonet socket, for example. Thus, after retracting the courser plug 75 the retractor rod 74 is reinserted into the tube 44 and locked in place for subsequent use of the device. An appropriate means such as cantilever spring 79 may engage a flat on the periphery of the knob 77 in order to prevent rotation of the tube 44 upon rotation of the magazine 22 after it is locked in place.

It will be understood that the axial force exerted by means of the mechanism including the courser plug on the screws 23 in the magazine 22 may tend to bind the head of the screw 23b against the arch-like stop means 35 (see FIG. 20). In order to avoid such jamming action, and as best shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, a leaf spring member 80 is provided at the top of the opening 40 in the arch-like stop means 35. Referring to FIG. 19, it will be seen that such leaf spring member 80 will be flexed in an upward direction as the screws 23 are forced through the opening 40. The spring 80 will remain flexed in an upward direction even when the screw 23b is superimposed on the screw 23a by the driving action of the screw driver 17. Thus, the effect of the spring 80 is to urge the head of the screws 23 downwardly in the opening 40 of the arch-like stop member 35 and out of contact with the screws 23 remaining in the magazine 22. Thus the spring 80 prevents the screws 23 from binding against the opening 40 and thereby avoids any jamming tendency which might otherwise exist.

From the above description it will be understood that screw 23 of various lengths but having the same diameter head and shank may be fed from the magazine 22 into the insert 50 with the screws 23 shown in the drawing being the maximum length that can be fed without jamming. Screws of shorter length will be held against axial movement toward the nozzle 24 by means of the springs 54 in the insert member 50.

It will also be understood that the mechanism 10 may be easily adapted to handle screws of smaller diameter than shown in the drawing by simply substituting an insert of smaller internal diameter and a screw driver of small outer diameter. To this end the insert 50 is adapted to be removably mounted in the block 18. The screw driver 17 may of course be easily changed in the chuck 16 of the power unit.

It will also be understood that an air driven power unit could be substituted for the electrical power unit shown in the drawing. It is thus seen that the subject invention provides a mechanism which may be easily adapted for a wide variety of applications. The flexibility and jam-free operation of the mechanism of the subject invention make it suitable for heavy industrial use as well as for lighter applications in home repair. In industrial of a the use of disposable magazine 22 will greatly increase efficiency and speed with which certain operations can be carried out. However, the magazine 22 is readily refillable if desired.

It is believed that those skilled in the art may make obvious modifications in the structure disclosed in the drawing and described in the foregoing specification without departing from the teaching of this invention. For example, a tubular cover may be placed about the nozzle 24 in order to protect it from damage, if desired. Similarly, equivalent structures or mechanisms may be substituted for the various specific mechanisms included in the subject device. Thus the essential features of the preferred embodiments shown in the drawing are specifically pointed out in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mechanism for feeding elongated cylindrical threaded fasteners having a shank of given diameter and a driving head of given larger diameter including a driving surface at one end thereof, one by one from a magazine containing an array of a plurality of said fasteners in substantially coaxial alignment along a given axis into coaxial alignment with an elongated cylindrical tool including a motor for rotating said tool about its cylindrical axis, said tool having a diameter substantially equal to said diameter of said driving head of said fasteners and having a tip adapted to engage said driving surface in said head of said fasteners; said cylindrical axis of said tool intersecting said given axis of said substantially coaxially aligned array of fasteners in said magazine at a given angle; and said tool and said magazine being mechanically interconnected for reciprocating movement with respect to each other whereby each of said plurality of fasteners may be individually driven in turn along said cylindrical axis of said tool; the improvement comprising:

a. a block member located at the intersection of said given axis of said substantially coaxially aligned array of fasteners with said cylindrical axis of said tool, said block member including a cylindrical passageway therethrough having a diameter larger than said diameter of said tool coaxially aligned with said cylindrical axis of said tool and means for receiving each of said fasteners from said magazine in turn and aligning them with said tool for driving;

and g b. an elongated rigid frame means having one end rigidly fixed to said block, at least a portion of said frame extending along said given axis and removably'supporting said magazine in fixed relationship to said block, the other end of said frame means being mechanically interconnected with said tool for slidable movement with respect to said tool in directions parallel to said cylindrical axis of said tool whereby said given angle formed between said given axis and said cylindrical axis remains constant during reciprocating movement of said frame together with said block and magazine with respect to said tool.

2. The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherin said means of said block for receiving each of said fasteners from said magazine in turn and aligning them with said tool for driving, comprises a tubular insert in said cylindrical passageway of said block dimensioned to receive said tool in one end thereof with a close spaced sliding tubular fit, said insert having a slot through the wall and intermediate the ends thereof with a length at least equal to the length of said fasteners and a width dimensioned to receive said fasteners laterally, said insert being mounted in said block to receive each of said fasteners from said magazine in turn through said slot.

3. The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein spring means are interposed in said insert for resiliently retaining each of said fasteners in said passageway against axial movement thereof in said passageway.

4. The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein said block member includes an archlike stop means having its open end positioned above said slot in said insert at the end thereof adjacent said magazine, the legs of said arch-like stop means being positioned on opposite sides of said given axis of alignment of said fasteners in said magazine, the surface of said arch-like stop means adjacent said magazine extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to said cylindrical axis of said tool.

5. The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said block member includes a further passageway therethrough extending parallel to but spaced from said cylindrical axis of said tool, and an elongated ratchet member having one end fixed to said motor extends into said further passageway, said block member being provided with double acting ratchet means cooperating with said ratchet member to require a reciprocating movement of said block member and said tool with respect to each other in a given direction to be completed before reciprocating movement of said block member and said tool with respect to each other in the opposite direction can easily take place.

6. The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 5 wherein spring means are included for biasing said block member and said tool toward the extreme end of a reciprocating movement therebetween in one direction thereof.

7. The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mechanism includes spring means urging said array of fasteners in said magazine to move along said given axis toward said block member.

8. The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said motor is an electrical motor mounted in a housing having a pistol grip and a trigger type control switch, and chuck means removably couples said cylindrical tool to said motor through appropriate gear means, said other end of said frame member being slidably mounted on said housing of said motor to allow relative movement therebetween in a direction parallel to said cylindrical axis of said tool.

9. The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 4 wherein spring means are included for urging said array of fasteners in said magazine to move along said given axis toward said block member and said block member includes spring means at the top of said arch-like means urging said fasteners to move toward the open end thereof.

10. The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein a tubular nozzle member of resilient material having an inner diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of said insert is coaxially mounted I in the end of said insert remote from said tool, said noz- 'zle member having an inwardly extending flange at its free end, said flange and a portion of the side wall of Said insert being slotted to provide a plurality of longitudinally extending fingers having inwardly extending strain said fingers from bending outwardly.

[SEAL] L'MTED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Etc. 3 907 ()14 Dated September 23. 19 75 Inventor-(s) ANTHONY P. MANINO It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 51, --electric-- should be inserted before "drills"; Column 8, line 47, delete "and" and substitute --an-- therefor; Column 9, line 39, "forced fed" should read "force fed--;

Column 11, lines 6 and .7, "In industrial of a the use" should read --In industrial use, the use--.

Signal and Scaled this thirtieth Day of December 1975 A ttest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner of hunts and Trademarks 

1. In a mechanism for feeding elongated cylindrical threaded fasteners having a shank of given diameter and a driving head of given larger diameter including a driving surface at one end thereof, one by one from a magazine containing an array of a plurality of said fasteners in substantially coaxial alignment along a given axis into coaxial alignment with an elongated cylindrical tool including a motor for rotating said tool about its cylindrical axis, said tool having a diameter substantially equal to said diameter of said driving head of said fasteners and having a tip adapted to engage said driving surface in said head of said fasteners; said cylindrical axis of said tool intersecting said given axis of said substantially coaxially aligned array of fasteners in said magazine at a given angle; and said tool and said magazine being mechanically interconnected for reciprocating movement with respect to each other whereby each of said plurality of fasteners may be individually driven in turn along said cylindrical axis of said tool; the improvement comprising: a. a block member located at the intersection of said given axis of said substantially coaxially aligned array of fasteners with said cylindrical axis of said tool, said block member including a cylindrical passageway therethrough having a diameter larger than said diameter of said tool coaxially aligned with said cylindrical axis of said tool and means for receiving each of said fasteners from said magazine in turn and aligning them with said tool for driving; and b. an elongated rigid frame means having one end rigidly fixed to said block, at least a portion of said frame extending along said given axis and removably supporting said magazine in fixed relationship to said block, the other end of said frame means being mechanically interconnected with said tool for slidable movement with respect to said tool in directions parallel to said cylindrical axis of said tool whereby said given angle formed between said given axis and said cylindrical axis remains constant during reciprocating movement of said frame together with said block and magazine with respect to said tool.
 2. The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherin said means of said block for receiving each of said fasteners from said magazine in turn and aligning them with said tool for driving, comprises a tubular insert in said cylindrical passageway of said block dimensioned to receive said tool in one end thereof with a close spaced sliding tubular fit, said insert having a slot through the wall and intermediate the ends thereof with a length at least equal to the length of said fasteners and a width dimensioned to receive said fasteners laterally, said insert being mounted in said block to receive each of said fasteners from said magazine in turn through said slot.
 3. The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein spring means are interposed in said insert for resiliently retaining each of said fasteners in said passageway against axial movement thereof in said passageway.
 4. The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein said block member includes an arch-like stop means having its open end positioned above said slot in said insert at the end thereof adjacent said magazine, the legs of said arch-like stop means being positioned on opposite sides of said given axis of alignment of said fasteners in said magazine, the surface of said arch-like stop means adjacent said magazine extending in a plane substantially perpendicular to said cylindrical axis of said tool.
 5. The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said block member includes a further passageway therethrough extending parallel to but spaced from said cylindrical axis of said tool, and an elongated ratchet member having one end fixed to said motor extends into said further passageway, said block member being provided with double acting ratchet means cooperating with said ratchet member to require a reciprocating movement of said block member and said tool with respect to each other in a given direction to be completed before reciprocating movement of said block member and said tool with respect to each other in the opposite direction can easily take place.
 6. The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 5 wherein spring means are included for biasing said block member and said tool toward the extreme end of a reciprocating movement therebetween in one direction thereof.
 7. The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mechanism includes spring means urging said array of fasteners in said magazine to move along said given axis toward said block member.
 8. The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein said motor is an electrical motor mounted in a housing having a pistol grip and a trigger type control switch, and chuck means removably couples said cylindrical tool to said motor through appropriate gear means, said other end of said frame member being slidably mounted on said housing of said motor to allow relative movement therebetween in a direction parallel to said cylindrical axis of said tool.
 9. The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 4 wherein spring means are included for urging said array of fasteners in said magazine to move along said given axis toward said block member and said block member includes spring means at the top of said arch-like means urging said fasteners to move toward the open end thereof.
 10. The improvement in a mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein a tubular nozzle member of resilient material having an inner diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of said insert is coaxially mounted in the end of said insert remote from said tool, said nozzle member having an inwardly extending flange at its free end, said flange and a portion of the side wall of said insert being slotted to provide a plurality of longitudinally extending fingers having inwardly extending portions at the free end thereof, and an annular member of resilient material compressively engaging the outer periphery of said nozzle member intermediate the ends of said slotted portion thereof to resiliently restrain said fingers from bending outwardly. 